Finding Budo

Welcome to Finding Budo. Today I am excited to share my recent interview with Uechi-Ryu Karate 9th degree black belt, Freddy Cicerchia. Freddy is a senior student of Buzz Durkin, and has been training Uechi-Ryu Karate since his twenties. In our interview we talk about how the martial arts have kept him mentally focused and balanced while dealing with injury, helped him as a leader and manager, and...

I consider myself incredibly lucky to present a multi-part interview with Uechi-Ryu Karate 10th degree black belt, Grandmaster Al Wharton. Sensei Wharton began his martial art training in 1969 at the Mattson Academy of Karate. He is also well versed, Northern Shaolin Bak Sil Lum, which he has been training since 1970. Sensei Wharton is a champion fighter who today teaches in Bermuda and the United...

I consider myself incredibly lucky to present a multi-part interview with Uechi-Ryu Karate 10th degree black belt, Grandmaster Al Wharton. Sensei Wharton began his martial art training in 1969 at the Mattson Academy of Karate. He is also well versed, Northern Shaolin Bak Sil Lum, which he has been training since 1970. Sensei Wharton is a champion fighter who today teaches in Bermuda and the United...

I consider myself incredibly lucky to present a multi-part interview with Uechi-Ryu Karate 10th degree black belt, Grandmaster Al Wharton. Sensei Wharton began his martial art training in 1969 at the Mattson Academy of Karate. He is also well versed, Northern Shaolin Bak Sil Lum, which he has been training since 1970. Sensei Wharton is a champion fighter who today teaches in Bermuda and the United...

I consider myself incredibly lucky to present a multi-part interview with Uechi-Ryu Karate 10th degree black belt, Grandmaster Al Wharton. Sensei Wharton began his martial art training in 1969 at the Mattson Academy of Karate. He is also well versed, Northern Shaolin Bak Sil Lum, which he has been training since 1970. Sensei Wharton is a champion fighter who today teaches in Bermuda and the United...

Today I am incredibly excited to share my recent interview with Uechi-Ryu Karate 10th degree black belt, Grandmaster Bob Bethoney. Beginning his training in 1964, Grandmaster Bethoney has a rich martial art history. He is an acclaimed tournament fighter, with over 57 full contact trophies to his name. Sensei Bethoney also has a long history of practical performance through his extensive law enforc...

Today on the podcast I sit down and talk with 5th degree Uechi-Ryu Karate black belt and retired federal judge, Jose Sanchez. Jose began his martial arts practice in 1983, starting in Seido Karate in New York City, later moving to Massachusetts and beginning his Uechi-Ryu Karate training. He received his Shodan in 1988 and is testing for his 6th degree master's rank later this year. He also cross...

Today I am sitting down with one of my Uechi-Ryu Karate mentors, Sensei Dan Dovidio. Sensei Dan Dovidio began Uechi-Ryu Karate training in 1975 under the tutelage of Buzz Durkin. He is now a ninth degree black belt and the owner of Dan Dovidio's Karate in Londonderry, NH. Dan Dovidio is a tournament champion who was ranked number one in the state of New Hampshire and has competed in Okinawa. Also...

Am I too old to start karate or any other martial art? This is one of the questions I often see while spending a little too much time browsing martial arts forums. It's asked so much that I thought I would make a quick video explaining why students of any age can benefit from karate and the martial arts regardless of age, current fitness level, or skill. I hope you enjoy this video, and come to re...

I wanted to talk about a quote I read today that I believe captures the essence of cooperative training in a karate class. The quote is by Paulo Coelho and it reads, “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” I think this quote is really relatable to how a karate class should be run and how all students should feel in class. In the martial arts, coopera...

When it comes to karate training, it's common to feel pressure to perform at a high level and to constantly compare ourselves to others. However, this mindset can lead to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement. That's why it's important to keep in mind these words from John Wooden, "Do the best you can. No one can do more than that." It’s a simple line, but it serves as a powerful reminder that...

Failure is often seen as something negative, something to be avoided at all costs. But I want to convince you to embrace failure and more importantly the fear of failure. That’s because I believe that failure is a valuable teacher that can lead us to growth and success. Some failures are big and some are so small that you may not realize how much they are affecting you until they start adding up....

Originally Released June 2024 Soon to be promoted Uechi-Ryu 10th Degree Black Belt and Grandmaster Leyn Burrows shares the story of how he started his Uechi-Ryu training. From his time growing up in Bermuda, training with Al Wharton and George Mattson, to becoming the senior student of Buzz Durkin's Uechi-Ryu Karate School. Leyn Burrows also shares his deep insight in how Uechi-Ryu karate training...

Originally Released July 2024 Today we have a special treat as I sit down and talk with Uechi-Ryu Karate pioneer Judy Durkin. Sensei Judy Durkin began her Uechi-Ryu karate training in 1971 under George Mattson and is a ninth degree black belt. In 1974 she founded Buzz Durkin's Uechi Karate School with her husband, Buzz Durkin. This fall she is testing for her tenth degree Uechi-Ryu black belt and...

Today on the podcast we have someone who has been incredibly instrumental to my martial arts and life in and out of the dojo - Sensei Bob Beal. Mr. Beal began his Uechi-Ryu Karate practice in 1975 under Richard Pinkham. Since 1989 he has been a student of Buzz Durkin. He is an eighth degree black belt and has been teaching at Mr. Durkin's school since 1993. I have always been profoundly impressed...

Shihan Dunn is a lifelong martial arts practitioner, beginning his martial arts training in Shotokan Karate at the age of 11 and achieving the rank of Black Belt under Toyotaro Miyazaki. He is also a black belt in judo under Kyoshi Shiina and in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Renzo Gracie. He is the owner of Gene Dunn's Shotokan Karate Dojo and Brooklyn BJJ. During our conversation, we discuss how in h...

David Kelley is a Uechi-Ryu Karate Hanshi 9th Degree Black Belt under Grandmaster Buzz Durkin. David Kelley began his Uechi-Ryu Karate practice at the age of 17 in 1974 under Buzz Durkin - who remains his sensei to this day. David Kelley was in law enforcement for twenty five years, and credits the martial arts for giving him the confidence to face many challenging situations and individuals. Anyo...

Neil Stone is a Uechi-Ryu Karate practitioner who I believe is one of the finest teachers I have worked with. Sensei Neil Stone began his Uechi-Ryu karate training in 1986 under Mike Rozumek. Today he trains under Uechi-Ryu Karate Grandmaster Buzz Durkin and runs a dojo in Hollis, NH. This fall he is testing for his 9th degree black belt. In this interview we talk about his early days of training:...

Welcome to our podcast! Today we have on a Uechi-Ryu practitioner who was instrumental in my development as a martial artist and instructor, Sensei Marcus Traynor Sensei Traynor began his Uechi-Ryu karate training in 1990 under Grandmaster Buzz Durkin. Since 1997 he has been the head instructor at Buzz Durkin's Karate School. In this interview we talk about how the martial arts and Uechi-Ryu Karat...

Today we have a delightful guest who I have trained with for many years, Uechi-Ryu Karate Black Dottie Endres. Dottie began her Uechi-Ryu karate training in 2006 under with Sensei Alan Kessler at the age of 62. She now trains with Sensei Buzz Durkin. This fall she is testing for her sixth degree Uechi-Ryu Karate black belt. During our discussion we talk about starting martial arts training at an o...

I had the honor to interview my sensei, Mr. Buzz Durkin of Buzz Durkin’s Uechi Karate School in Atkinson, NH. Sensei Durkin began his karate training in 1966 in Boston, MA under the tutelage of American karate pioneer George Mattson. Mr. Durkin opened his dojo in 1974 and since then has trained thousands of students in the New England area. He is the founder of the Uechiryu Butokukai, a group of s...

Hello, my name is Bill Leith and this is my podcast about the martial arts, Finding Budo. This podcast is a journey exploring budo, also known as the martial way. I ask you to join me as we embark on a journey to uncover the deeper meaning behind martial arts training. We will sit down with renowned martial arts experts, instructors, and dedicated practitioners to explore the philosophy, disciplin...